DRI may be using the wrong terms but I remember reading once in a book that I read that there was a cast called the statue of liberty... similar to the football play.. you bring the rod straight back but pause over your head... allow the line to come back and then bring the rod forward.. it would be used for area where there is limited area for a full back cast... like I said I may of used the wrong term but I think you get the idea.. looking at the picture I can picture this as that type of cast....at least that is what I see anyway... MacFly

...."May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it. ~Irish Blessing"

Right On! Mac. It could be wind, big fly or not waiting for the line to load on the back cast.With heavy flies you want to widen your loop as on windy days.On places where back cast is not available, then a roll cast, but the loop will be in front of you.

Does that mean I was close to right...lol.. as I look at the picture it looks like his loop is coming back but the rod has stopped.. which led me to think of the cast I described before.. I beleive the book was the Curtis Creek Manifesto.. but could be wrong on that too...lol... hate it when the memory goes away....

MacFly

...."May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it. ~Irish Blessing"

The only reference to the Statue of Liberty that I have heard is that when one hooks up they bring the rod up in a Statue of Liberty pose or words to that effect. That is the arm is fully extended vertically. Naturally our fisherman in the picture hasnít done that nor has he hooked up. He is not doing a roll cast either. Not sure of what you mean by letting the line come back for if it does then what is the purpose? Perhaps I spoke to fast for after I magnified the picture it really doesnít appear to be a rainbow [my terminology] loop. The red line marks the tip of the rod and the other red line extends the fly line itself. So maybe that is just the way this individual is picking up the line and going into his back cast.

Dryrod There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm! Not a member yet? Click this link to register. Tell them Dryrod sent you! Your Fly Fishing Moderator

That picture is a whole different ball game. I am again going to refer to heavy fly or windy conditions. Not seeing what is behind him, he might be just slapping the fly out which happens all too often.To do a roll cast, he is in the right possition, but the loop on top is not neccesary. Just bring the rod straight up, letting the line fall to your side or slightly behind, then with force, point the tip where you want the fly to go and watch the line unroll.Pictures are a little tuff to tell. A video would tell all.

Also, I can't tell for sure but it doesn't look like the slack line is in his left hand, so I think he is lobbing it out

but on the statue of liberty cast I dont think you have to have the arm fully extended over your head.. it was my understanding that it was a type of cast to use when you dont have room for a full backcast.. the line .. as I understand it.. is brought forward just as it reaches an imaginary point just above your head but not go behind you.. if I remember right the author of that book also said to use roll casts to set the line up right in front of you .. I can see the picture in my mind but not sure I am describing sufficiently...

MacFly

...."May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it. ~Irish Blessing"